Saturday, January 12, 2008

Literary Louise, Spencer, and Katherine

Most people don't know who this woman is....



But you may know who this couple is...


The first woman is Louise Treadwell. She was the wife of Spencer Tracy, the man embracing Katherin Hepburn in the photo. It is widely known that Spencer and Katherine had an intimate relationship off screen. How intimate is anyone's guess.


For some reason, I began thinking about Louise Treadwell Tracy. I don't know why. I just wondered about the woman who had to put up with the rumors and gossip that her husband was in a very "close" relationship with one of the most striking and talented women of the 20th century.


Louise was no slouch herself. She did incredible work on behalf of the deaf because her first son was born without hearing. Apparently Spencer Tracy loved his wife dearly. He apparently also loved Katherin. He was Catholic and wouldn't divorce. Upon his death, Katherine Hepburn didn't go to the his funeral out of respect for the family. Is there drama here or what? I'm thinking a play.

5 comments:

BronzeBuckaroo said...

There is a good play here. You should write it. Of course, you must remember that Kate also showed an interest in her own sex/gender and Tracy is said to have dabbled a bit with the men. Well, at lease one drunk time he did. Along with Tracy's wife, these lives were complicated. Kate never really got over the suicide of her brother. There is so much you could nuiance in such a work.

P.S.
LETTERS TO MONTGOMERY CLIFF was a good and very interesting read.

Peter Varvel said...

Bizarre love triangles. This is an example of when it seems current religions, when too stringent, need to be replaced by a new order.

Don Cummings said...

A play? I say, go out and LIVE IT!

Liz Dwyer said...

There is crazy drama in this. I have always been fascinated by their story. They're sort of like a modern day Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn. Except for all the head chopping and Tracy never divorced his wife. But you know what I mean.

Just imagine, TMZ and Perez Hilton would have had a field day with these three.

the last noel said...

Bronze, I wasn't even thinking of the queer angle--whoa!

Peter, being Catholic kept Spencer from marrying the love of his life and kept Hepburn lonely. Deep.

Don, I believe in living, but a love triangle?

Liz, I know. The press would have a field day with this sh*t today.